Big Pines Pile Burning starts 12-19-06

[Wrightwood]

The Angeles Forest will be pile burning all day (if conditions allow) in the Big Pines area north of Big Pines Highway. With such clear skies, the smoke should be visible for miles. Could be the smell of smoke drifting into Wrightwood as well.

[Tall Trees]

Angeles National Forest fire engine crews and hand crews burned 37 piles of slash today across from the Arch Picnic area on Big Pines Hwy.  This slash was generated as part of the Big Pines Fuel Reduction Project initiated by Ranger Cid Morgan.  The work today consisted of a test burn to verify that burning conditions were favorable as well as checking the smoke dispersal.  Smoke management is a major concern for the burn boss because we do not not want to have a negative impact to the community or the permit holders which includes Mt. High Resort.  The piles burning was timed perfectly to allow for smoke dispersal, the smoke raised up about 100 feet and then dispersed away from the community with no impacts.  Traffic on Hwy 2 and Big Pines Hwy was not affected from the piles burning.  The piles burning will continue tomarrow and forest service and possible Camp Fenner Hand crews will be parked in turn-outs along the highway.

[Tall Trees]

I was informed that Forest Service engine crews and camp crews from Fenner Canyon burned 30 large piles today on the north side of Big Pines Hwy across from the Arch Picnic area.  The piles were allowed to completly burn down into ash and were mopped up with water from hose lays until they were completly extenguished.  The piles will be checked tomorrow morning by the burn boss and probed with a infared heat sensor to verify that the piles are out.

[Wrightwood]

Great job ANF crews!!!

Will they continue again tomorrow?

[Tall Trees]

I heard that they finished with the burning project until after the holidays.  They should start up again after the new year.